I mean, there are tests, sure. But at German schools for example, what do they really determine? Not your chance to get into university. For one thing, they're not standardized, except for Matura (AFAIK?). They don't influence the school's funding. Mostly not even whether parents send their kids to this school - you just go to whatever school is near you, as they're all pretty good.

They are signal for your teachers and parents. Matura might influence your choice of German schools, but that's about the only one, and even then, it's not really an important factor these days, is it?